Parental Bereavement Act of 2026
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
The Parental Bereavement Act of 2026 amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave following the death of a son or daughter. It expands the definition of ‘son or daughter’ for leave purposes and introduces requirements for notice, certification, and scheduling of this leave. The bill also extends these provisions to civil service employees, aligning their leave benefits with those available to private sector employees.
Key provisions
- Expands Family and Medical Leave Act to include leave due to the death of a son or daughter.
- Establishes a 12-week unpaid leave period for this reason.
- Requires employers to provide reasonable notice if the need for leave is foreseeable.
- Allows employers to require a certification supporting a leave request.
- Modifies scheduling requirements for intermittent or reduced leave.
- Extends these provisions to civil service employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code.
Who is affected
- Employees of private sector companies
- Civil service employees
- Families of deceased children
- Employers
- Federal government agencies
Notable changes
- Creates a new category of leave – ‘Family leave because of the death of a son or daughter’ – within the FMLA.
Bill text
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Sponsors
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9 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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